The Heather-Farm

Silvopastoral system with Ash at Loughall, Northern Ireland

Pick Your Factsheet!

The increased demand for meat is driven by a rising human population, and a dramatic growth in meat consumption per person. Farmers and scientists have sought to curb the adverse environmental impacts of livestock by increasing production efficiency, and reducing its contribution to human consumption. Reduction in livestock feed components, which compete with human food crop production, is one approach to mitigating negative environmental impacts and strengthening future food security.

Agroforestry is the integration of woody vegetation, crops and/or livestock on the same area of land. Trees can be inside parcels or on the boundaries (hedges). Agroforestry can be applied to all agricultural systems, in all parts of Europe.